Interspinous Ligament Transverse Connector

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes the steps for creating an access path to the posterior portion of the spine, positioning a first and second elongate rod longitudinally on opposing portions of the spine, piercing a portion of the interspinous ligament with a third elongate rod, and positioning the third elongate rod connecting the first and second elongated rods in a cross connection assembly. The cross connection assembly includes a one-piece connecting body comprising a receptacle facing outwards towards the first rod and away from the second rod and a clamp, and a set screw selectively positioned to securely hold the connecting body to the first rod. The connecting body is disposed substantially between the first and second elongate rods. The clamp allows the connecting body to slidingly engage with the third rod.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED TO APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority toprovisional application Ser. No. 61/363,387 filed on Jul. 12, 2010,incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to device which stabilizes the spine. Inparticular, the present invention is related to stabilizing the spinethrough the use of rods and rod connectors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of spinal irregularities can cause pain, limit range ofmotion, or injure the nervous system within the spinal column. Theseirregularities can result from, without limitation, trauma, tumor, discdegeneration, and disease. Often, these irregularities are treated byimmobilizing a portion of the spine. This treatment typically involvesaffixing a plurality of screws and/or hooks to one or more vertebrae andconnecting the screws or hooks to an elongate rod that generally extendsin the direction of the axis of the spine.

Treatment for these spinal irregularities often involves using a systemof pedicle screws and rods to attain stability between spinal segments.Instability in the spine can create stress and strain on neurologicalelements, such as the spinal cord and nerve roots. In order to correctthis, implants of certain stiffness can be implanted to restore thecorrect alignment and portion of the vertebral bodies. Surgeons utilizepolyaxial bone screws throughout the spine for posterior fusion. Therigidity or stiffness of posterior fusion systems is commonly augmentedby the use of trans-connectors or t-connectors. The screw trajectory andplacement is often dictated by the natural anatomy and frequentlyresults in situations where the polyaxial bone screws are very close oreven touch the adjacent screws.

In the abovementioned situation, a standard t-connector ortrans-connector that affixes directly onto the titanium alloy rods maynot be suitable due to the proximity of the bone screws. There is a needfor a transverse connector which would be ideally suited to providerigidity to the construct by puncturing through the interspinousligament.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method for stabilizing the spineincluding the steps for creating an access path to the posterior portionof the spine, positioning a first and second elongate rod longitudinallyon opposing portions of the spine, piercing a portion of theinterspinous ligament with a third elongate rod, and positioning thethird elongate rod connecting the first and second elongated rods in across connection assembly. The cross connection assembly includes aone-piece connecting body comprising a receptacle facing outwardstowards the first rod and away from the second rod and a clamp, and aset screw selectively positioned to securely hold the connecting body tothe first rod. The connecting body is disposed substantially between thefirst and second elongate rods. The clamp allows the connecting body toslidingly engage with the third rod. A fastener causes the clamp to beclamped around the third rod, thereby locking the third rod relative tothe connecting body. The third rod is configured and designed withfrusto-conical tips for piercing the interspinous ligament.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The attached drawings illustrate the elements of the present invention.Design and utility features of the present invention are also disclosed.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate various views of one exemplary embodiment of atransverse connector system according to the present invention;

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate yet another embodiment of a transverse connectorsystem according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 9-12 illustrate yet another embodiment of a transverse connectorsystem according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following discussion is directed to various embodiments of theinvention. Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred,the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used,as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. Inaddition, one skilled in the art will understand that the followingdescription has broad application, and the discussion of any embodimentis meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended tolimit the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited tothat embodiment.

The interspinous transverse connector is configured and designed to beimplanted through the interspinous ligament by a rod that can puncturethrough the ligament, while at the same time leaving the ligament intact. Generally, in spinal procedures for implanting trans-connectorssystems, the interspinous ligament is removed and a traditional crossconnector is positioned. However, there is no need to remove theinterspinous ligament, therefore by positioning the present interspinousconnector system, stabilizing the spine decreases operating time, andincreases the speed of recovery and the bodies natural structures willcontinue to aid in stabilizing the spine.

The first embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS.1-4 show a bullet-tipped or frusto-conical ends of a cross connector 10for puncturing through the interspinous ligament and enables thepositioning of the cross connector 10 regardless of the orientation. Therod 12 is fixed to the body 14 of the connector 10 by a clamp 16provided on opposite sides of the system. Each connector body 14 isprovided with a hook 18 on the end for coupling to the posterior rods 20and 22.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, posterior rods 20 and 22 preferably runalong the length of at least two or more vertebrae. Each rod 20 and 22is preferably fixed to the vertebrae. In order to align the two or morevertebrae, rods 20 and 22 are preferably held in place using, forexample, a fixation device. The present invention comprises, asmentioned above, two connecting bodies 14 that are preferably connectedusing a third rod, which allows the two rods 20 and 22 to be fixed inplace relative to one another. Each of the connecting bodies preferablycomprise an opening for passing the third rod that is capable of fixingthe connecting body in place relative to the third rod using, forexample, a screw. The opening preferably includes a c-ring having aspherical curvature, which may be placed within the opening to pass thethird rod. The spherical curvature of the c-ring preferably prevents itfrom being forced out of the opening under normal conditions. The c-ringis capable of allowing the two connecting bodies to translate axially,or side to side, with respect to the third rod. This allows the spacingbetween the two rods 20 and 22 to be adjusted during, for example, anoperation. Once the two connecting bodies are positioned as desired,they may be fixed in place relative to the third rod.

The second embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS.5-8, show a connector system 26 having multiple clamps 28 provided withhooks 30 capable of coupling to posterior rods 32. The cross connectorrod 34 is configured to be in-line with the posterior hooks 30 of theclamps 28. The cross connector rod 34 is configured and designed with afrustoconical ends. The cross connector rod 34 is designed so that asurgeon can use the frustoconical ends to pierce the interspinousligament rather than removing the interspinous ligament.

The third embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS.9-12, another inline cross connector system 40 attached to posteriorrods 42 and 44. The cross connector 40 in the embodiment is integral toa first portion 46 of the hook end of the connector body of theconstruct and the locking point 48 for the cross connector is integralto the contra-lateral hook 50 and configured to be inline with the hookitself.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, the cross connecting rod isbullet shaped at the ends so that the ends may puncture through theinterspinous ligament. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9-12, asingle end of the cross connecting rod is bullet shaped and the otherend is integral and/or coupled to the opposite hook portion of theconnector assembly. Although the ends of the cross connector rod arebullet shaped, it should be noted that any shape that enables the crossconnector rod to puncture through the interspinous ligament may be used.Additionally, it should be noted that the clamps in all the embodimentsare tightened using a set screw to secure the rods into their properposition. Also, the hooks at the opposing ends of all the embodimentsare also provided with a set screw to tighten down on the posteriorrods.

The various features and embodiments of the invention described hereinmay be used interchangeably with other feature and embodiments. Finally,while it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the inventionherein disclosed fulfill the objectives stated above, it will beappreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments may bedevised by one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, it will beunderstood that the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications and embodiments which come within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

1. A method for stabilizing the spine, comprising: creating an accesspath to the posterior portion of the spine; positioning a first andsecond elongate rod longitudinally on opposing portions of the spine;positioning a cross connector system comprising: a third elongate rod,connecting the first and second elongated rods; a one-piece connectingbody comprising a receptacle facing outwards towards the first rod andaway from the second rod and a clamp; a set screw selectively positionedto securely hold the connecting body to the first rod; and wherein theconnecting body is disposed substantially between the first and secondelongate rods; wherein the clamp allows the connecting body to slidinglyengage with the third rod; wherein a fastener causes the clamp to beclamped around the third rod, thereby locking the third rod relative tothe connecting body, wherein the third rod is configured and designedwith frusto-conical tips, puncturing an interspinous ligament with thefrusto-conical tips of the third rod; positioning the third rod withinthe connecting body of the cross connector system; and securing thefirst, second and third rods stabilizing the spine.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the connecting body is capable of rotatingabout a transverse axis.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein theconnecting body is capable of rotating about an axis perpendicular to atransverse axis.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the clampcomprises a bushing.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein thestep of piercing the interspinous ligment further includes the step ofpreparing the interspinous ligament for piecing.
 6. The method accordingto claim 5, wherein the preparing the interspinous ligament includes thestep of providing medication to the interspinous ligament prior topiercing.
 7. A method of stabilizing the spine comprising the steps of:positioning a transverse fixation system in a posterior portion of thespine; and securing the transverse fixation system to the posteriorportion of the spine, wherein the transverse fixation system comprises:a first and a second elongate rod; a first and a second c-ring, eachc-ring comprising an outer surface having a spherical curvature andfirst and second free ends facing each other to define an opening; athird elongate rod; a first and a second one-piece connecting body, thefirst and second one-piece connecting bodies each comprising areceptacle facing outwards towards either the first rod or second rodand away from the other of the first rod or second rod and a clampdisposed around either the first or the second c-ring and one end of thethird elongate rod having a curved surface corresponding to the outersurface of the first or second c-ring; wherein the first and secondconnecting bodies are disposed substantially between the first andsecond elongate rods; a first fastener selectively positioned tosecurely hold the first connecting body to the first rod; a secondfastener selectively positioned to securely hold the second connectingbody to the second rod; a first set screw capable of securing the firstclamp to the third rod; wherein the first c-ring and first clamp allowthe first connecting body to slidingly engage with the third elongaterod; wherein rotation of the first set screw causes the first clamp tobe clamped around the third elongate rod relative to the firstconnecting body; a second set screw capable of securing the second clampto the third rod; wherein the second c-ring and second clamp allow thesecond connecting body to slidingly engage with the third elongate rod;and wherein rotation of the second set screw causes the second clamp tobe clamped around the third elongate rod relative to the secondconnecting body; wherein the first and second c-ring comprise a notchselectively positioned on an inner face of the c-ring and substantiallyopposite the opening. wherein the third elongate rod is configured witha frusto-conical tips for piercing a portion of the interspinousligament.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first andsecond clamps are capable of holding the first and second connectingbodies in place relative to the third rod.
 9. The method according toclaim 7, wherein the connecting body is capable of translating axiallyrelative to the third rod.
 10. The method according to claim 7, whereinthe step of piercing the interspinous ligament further includes the stepof preparing the interspinous ligament for piercing.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the preparing the interspinous ligamentincludes the step of providing medication to the interspinous ligamentprior to piercing.
 12. A method for stabilizing the spine, comprising:creating an access path to the posterior portion of the spine;positioning a first and second elongate rod longitudinally on opposingportions of the spine; piercing a portion of the interspinous ligamentwith a third elongate rod; positioning the third elongate rod connectingthe first and second elongated rods in a cross connection assemblycomprising: a one-piece connecting body comprising a receptacle facingoutwards towards the first rod and away from the second rod and a clamp;a set screw selectively positioned to securely hold the connecting bodyto the first rod; and wherein the connecting body is disposedsubstantially between the first and second elongate rods; wherein theclamp allows the connecting body to slidingly engage with the third rod;wherein a fastener causes the clamp to be clamped around the third rod,thereby locking the third rod relative to the connecting body, whereinthe third rod is configured and designed with frusto-conical tips.